As word continues to leak out of the sinking ship that is the Titanic NBC with regards to yesterday’s shocking (albeit somewhat inevitable) news surrounding the failed experiment that is THE JAY LENO SHOW, questions and analysis continue to flood the internet with regards to what the Peacock Network should do with Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon and Carson Daly assuming Leno does in fact return to his 11:35PM timeslot following the Olympics in March.
That said, for this TV Addict — whose late night schedule is already reserved for the dynamic Comedy Central duo that are Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert — the far more pressing question is just how on earth NBC plans on replacing the five hours left vacant by Jay Leno returning from whence he came?
Needless to say, we’ve got a few ideas (cough*PARENTHOOD Thursday nights*cough*cough) But, before NBC announces their hastily thought out plan to fill the void with an even bigger BIGGEST LOSER or LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL CRIMINAL TRIAL BY JURY, this TV Addict thought we best be putting our two cents down on paper, and fast. After-all, if the Peacock Network has taught us anything this past season (Well, aside that is from how to not run a network), it’s that clearly, very little thought goes into running this multi-billion dollar business
Which brings us to our pitch.
Question: What does NBC love even more than cheap programming? Answer: A series with an already built-in fan base and obvious name recognition (See: Re-imaginations of BIONIC WOMAN, KNIGHT RIDER and the upcoming PARENTHOOD). Which is why our candidate for a 10PM slot this spring would go to none other than President Matt Santos and a re-boot of THE WEST WING.
Think about it. Thanks to the highly underrated seventh season, not only does the John Wells series have a proven concept ready to go, but with the exception of Bradley Whitford who is already committed to the upcoming new FOX series JACK AND DAN a cast that is waiting in the wings. Plus, if there was ever a time when the country could use a little Aaron Sorkin magic to get us believing in the political system again (See: the never-ending health care debate, the economy and the fact that it took me a solid three hours to get through airport security yesterday because the office of Homeland security can’t seem to stop a terrorist even after his own father personally went out of his way to alert the US government) it’s now. Santos ’10… who’s with me? 